PSYb1050 Psychology of cognitive processes

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Miroslav Šipula (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 23. 9. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 30. 9. 14:00–15:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 7. 10. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 14. 10. 14:00–15:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 21. 10. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 4. 11. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 11. 11. 14:00–15:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 18. 11. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 25. 11. 14:00–15:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 2. 12. 14:00–15:40 P52, Mon 9. 12. 14:00–15:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy, Mon 16. 12. 14:00–15:40 P52
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 38 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
PSYb1050 is an introductory course providing students with an insight into classical theories of human cognition. The lecture topics represent an overview of cognitive processes with an emphasis on scientific approach towards human cognition. This course represents a base for further study of other psychological disciplines.
Learning outcomes
After successful completion of the course, a student would be able to:

1. Characterize particular cognitive processes and their relation to behavior

2. Explain certain chosen theories of perception, attention, and memory models

3. Formulate a conclusion about the relation between human cognition, behavior, emotions and motivation

4. Describe scientific methods used in experimental research of cognition

5. Integrate the knowledge about human cognition into other psychological disciplines
Syllabus
  • Course Introduction

    Psychology as a separate scientific discipline, historical overview of psychological schools with the emphasis on cognitive revolution and its impact on the further development of the field, from cognitive revolution towards modern cognitive science, current trends in research and philosophy of consciousness (from Turing through Searle to Dannett).

  • Perception

    Psychophysics (Weber-Fechner law), object recognition (Marr´s model, Biederman´s model), constructivist theory of perception vs. direct perception (Gibson), embedded cognition and affordances, color perception (Young-Helmholtz theory, Hering theory and Hurvich theory), gestalt laws of perception, visual illusions, perception pathology (blindsight, neglect, prosopagnosia), non-standard perception (synesthesia), mental representations, Paivio´s model of dual coding, schemas (Bartlett), scripts (Schank & Abelson), propositions (Kosslyn), mental rotations (Shepard & Metzler), boundary extension (Intraub).

  • Memory

    Types of memory according to the information stored (episodic, semantic and autobiographical memory), the relation between episodic and autobiographical memory (Pathman et al., 2011), declarative and procedural memory, types of memory according the time period of information storage (Atkinson & Shiffrin model), working memory (Baddeley & Hitch), Conway´s model of autobiographical memory, autobiographical memory and trauma, reminiscence bump and cultural life scripts (Berntsen & Rubin), flashbulb memories (Brown & Kulik), Living in history (Brown), forgetting and amnesia.

  • Attention

    Definition and characteristics of attention, classical filter theories of attention (Treisman, Deutsch & Deutsch, Broadbent), Kahneman, Norman and Bobrow´s model of attention, divided attention, cocktail party phenomenon, change blindness, experimental methods to test attention.

  • Language and speech

    Foundations of psycholinguistics, cognitive anthropology, Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language and thought, different theories of concept categorization, speech apprehension theories (Piaget, Vygotsky, Chládková), reading and speech production, theory of memes (Blackmore), aphasia.

  • Thinking and decision making

    Making judgments and deciding, deduction and induction in thinking, Tversky and Kahneman prospect theory, heuristics, Damasio and Bechara (somatic marker hypothesis, Iowa gambling task and its criticism).
Literature
    required literature
  • EYSENCK, Michael W. and Mark T. KEANE. Cognitive psychology : a student's handbook. Seventh edition. London: Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015, xviii, 838. ISBN 9781848724167. info
  • EYSENCK, Michael W. and Mark T. KEANE. Kognitivní psychologie. Translated by Miroslav Filip. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2008, 748 s. ISBN 9788020015594. info
    recommended literature
  • GOLDSTEIN, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research and everyday experience. Nelson Education.
  • STERNBERG, Robert J. Kognitivní psychologie. Translated by František Koukolík. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2002, 636 s. ISBN 80-7178-376-5. info
  • KAHNEMAN, Daniel. Myšlení - rychlé a pomalé. Translated by Eva Nevrlá. Vydání první. V Brně: Jan Melvil, 2012, 542 stran. ISBN 9788087270424. URL info
    not specified
  • Baars, B. J., & Gage, N. M. (2010). Cognition, brain, and consciousness: Introduction to cognitive neuroscience. Academic Press.
  • ŠIKL, Radovan. Zrakové vnímání. 1. vydání. Praha: Grada Publishing, 2012, 312 stran. ISBN 9788024730295. URL info
Teaching methods
Lectures
PowerPoint slides will be available after every lecture (uploaded at study materials). It is not advised to copy all the information on slides during lecture, but rather think about the material that is discussed during lecture and prepare comments and discussion questions.

Reading
Each topic (out of five covered in lectures) will require reading of one research paper, that would be uploaded to study materials by the teacher. It is advised to read all five of the papers, as the content can be a subject of the final test.

Mandatory homework
Student hands-in five discussion questions based on the reading (as least one discussion question per research paper) during semester and one multiple-choice questions that simulates the final test questions with one correct answer and four distractor answers.

Participation
The research paper will be discussed at the beginning of a lecture. Students are supposed to bring their discussion questions and participate in discussion.
Assessment methods
Homework evaluation (Specific rules of evaluation and detailed homework assignment can be found in interactive syllabus). Student is required to hand in all the mandatory homework, after that will be allowed to participate on the final test. Late due of the homework will not be accepted at any circumstances.

Quiz. There is a mandatory half-time quiz during the semester. The score will be counted in the final grade. The maximum a student can get from one quiz is 20 points.

Final exam. PC administrated test containing open answer questions and multiple-choice questions. Maximum is 50 points. Final exam and one quiz add up to maximum 70 points.

Student is required to obtain at least 60 % of the total 70 point to pass the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/predmet/fss/podzim2022/PSYB1050


Interactive syllabus link: https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/fss/podzim2022/PSYb1050/index.qwarp

Contact info:

Mgr. Lenka Štěpánková, Ph. D., Room 2.47, Office hours: Tuesday 14 - 16:00 p.m.

Mgr. Miroslav Šipula, Room 2.54, Consultations upon email agreement: miro@fss.muni.cz, office hours according the personal profile at IS.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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